Highland area police briefs for the week of April 6-12

Editor’s note: The following incidents were listed among the official reports of local law enforcement agencies and court clerks. Readers are reminded that an arrest or charge does not constitute a finding of guilt. Only a court of law can make that determination.

Lightning knocked out Highland’s sirens

A lightning strike on Thursday morning of last week left the city of Highland without its severe weather warning system for a day.

Thunderstorms that passed through the area on April 9 sent a bolt of lightning through the transmitter that controls the city’s outdoor early-warning sirens. The strike disabled the transmitter, which sends radio signals to sound the sirens, until around 12:30 p.m. on Friday, April 10. The strike also effected some of the city’s other radio communications.

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The system was down as more severe weather passed through the area Thursday afternoon and evening. However, the worst of it missed Highland. No damage was reported in the city.

Feds: Man wanted to impregnate girl, 13

A 27-year-old Troy man was arrested in Collinsville on Monday of last week for allegedly trying to convince a woman to let him impregnate her 13-year-old daughter, even though the woman and the minor were actually fictitious online profiles created by a U.S. Secret Service agent.

Shane L. Schlaefer faces charges of attempted commercial sex trafficking of a child and attempted enticement of a minor, and on Friday, a judge ordered that he be held without bail in the Madison County Jail.

According to charges filed in federal court, Schlaefer began contacting who he believed to be a woman from Ohio on an online forum and discussed meeting the woman’s daughter for sex. During several online exchanges that lasted from late 2014 through April 6, Schlaefer had conversations and sent pornographic pictures of himself and others to both the woman’s profile and that of her daughter.

The agent who posed as the woman agreed to drive from Ohio to a restaurant in Collinsville with her daughter if Schlaefer paid her. Schlaefer agreed to pay her $500.

When Schlaefer arrived to the meeting on the evening of April 6, Secret Service agents, a Southern Illinois Cyber-Crime unit and local police were waiting. During police interviews following his arrest, Schlaefer admitted to contacting the woman and making the deal to have sex with her daughter.

If convicted on both charges, Schlaefer could spend at least 25 years in prison, face lifelong probation and be forced to pay up to $500,000 in fines.

Worden man shot, killed by police

A Worden man wanted in a shooting in Missouri was shot and killed by officers as he was trying to break into an Alton home Monday, according to police.

Police said a resident of a home in the 3400 block of Lincoln Street called at just after 5 p.m. to say Isaac Jimenez was trying to get into the house.

Police rushed to the scene where they reportedly confronted Jimenez, 27, who was armed with a handgun. Jimenez refused to drop his weapon when ordered to do so by officers, according to police. Shots were fired, and Jimenez died at the scene. The officer who shot Jimenez is a 10-year law enforcement veteran, police said.

Madison County Coroner Steve Nonn said an autopsy conducted Tuesday revealed that Jimenez died from a gunshot wound to the chest, but he also suffered other non-lethal gunshot wounds. However, the number and location of wounds was not being disclosed pending further forensic review of the incident and compilation of witness statements.

Jimenez was a person of interest in connection to a shooting of a 27-year-old woman near Affton, Mo., that happened on Sunday morning, according to St. Louis County Police. The woman, who had a restraining order against Jimenez, was shot in the head. Her identity was not released, but she remained in critical condition as of Tuesday, police said.

The search for Jimenez led police to a home in Worden on Sunday. Tactical units arrived at the home around 8 p.m. and kept it surrounded for about eight hours before moving in, but when they did, Jimenez was not there.

Trenton man gets seven years on federal meth conspiracy charge

Jimmy L. Richeson Sr., 52, of Trenton was sentenced on April 8 to seven years in federal prison for his involvement in a methamphetamine manufacturing ring.

According to prosecutors, Richeson was involved with a husband and wife team, Allen and Carmen Clover, both 41 of Tilden, Ill., and others, in the manufacture of meth.

M

embers of the group often traveled together Jackson, Randolph, and St. Clair counties to obtain pseudoephedrine, which they would later provide to methamphetamine manufacturers, according to court documents.

Richeson had previously pleaded guilty to an indictment charging him with conspiracy to manufacture meth.

Carmen Clover was was sentenced on March 17 to 57 months in prison for her role in the conspiracy. Allen Clover pleaded guilty on Nov. 19, 2014 and is awaiting sentencing.

New Douglas man charged with theft

Emil E. Schneck, 32, of New Douglas was arrested by Clinton County authorities on April 10 on warrants from multiple jurisdictions.

Schneck was wanted by Highland police on a charge of felony theft over $500. Highland police allege Schneck cashed a check drawn on the account of a Highland church, which he had made out to himself for $310. The incident was reported to police on Aug. 30, 2014. His bond was set at $20,000.

Schneck also had warrants for his arrest issued by the Madison County Sheriff’s Office, St. Clair County Sheriff’s Office, and Clayton, Mo., Police Department. Further information on those charges was not available.

HPD felony warrant arrests

• Nathan B. Shires, 37, of Highland was arrested on April 6 on a felony warrant for possession of heroin.

• Deyona L. Harper, 29, of Belleville was arrested by HPD on April 7 on a felony warrant from St. Clair County for possession of methamphetamine precursors. Harper was transported to the St. Clair County Jail.

HPD misdemeanor warrant arrests

• Nicole L. Kayich, 43, of Granite City was arrested on April 2 by Granite City police on an HPD warrant for failure to appear in court on charges of driving while having a suspended/revoked license and operation of an uninsured motor vehicle. She posted bond.

• William M. Dixon, 30, of Highland was arrested by Madison County authorities on an HPD warrant on April 2 for failure to appear in court on a battery charge.

• John A. Walker, 49, of Pocahontas was arrested on April 11 on a warrant from Bond County on a charge of driving under the influence.

• Brent W. Perigen, 19, of Alhambra was arrested on April 11 on a warrant from HPD for failure to appear in court on a retail theft charge.

HPD citations, misdemeanors

April 6

• Matthew K. Fox, 37, of Highland was charged with criminal trespass to land for allegedly entering Dollar General after having previously been told he was forbidden to be there.

• Zachary T. Carter, 23, of Centralia was charged with operation of an uninsured motor vehicle.

April 7

• Emily M. Emerson, 35, of Greenville was charged with improper use of registration.

• Edward E. Flexter, 33, of Highland was charged with battery. No further information was available.

• Alexsis N. Diveney, 27, of Hamilton, Ill., was charged with driving while having a suspended/revoked license.

• James A. Grant, 33, of Sorento was charged with driving while having a suspended/revoked license and operation of an uninsured motor vehicle.

April 8

• No tickets issued.

April 9

• Caleb A. Youngman, 30, of Highland was charged with deceptive practices. No further information was available.

• Ethan D. Wood, 24, of Highland was charged with assault. Police allege that Wood approached, chased and verbally threatened to attack and shoot another person. In the same incident, Danny L. Sullivan, 19, of St. Jacob was charged with battery for allegedly punching another person in the chest. He was also charged with violation of an order of protection.

• Christopher R. Walter, 28, of Highland was charged with operation of an uninsured motor vehicle.

• Shelly M. Smith, 31, of East Alton was charged with retail theft. No further information was available.

April 10

• Kelly L. Mattern, 35, of Granite City was charged with driving while having a suspended/revoked license.

April 11

• Marlise M. Boyer, 50, of Highland was charged with driving while having a suspended/revoked license.

• Matthew K. Fox, 37, of Highland was charged with criminal trespass to land for allegedly entering property owned by Terra Properties after having previously been told he was forbidden to be there.

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Christopher A. Michels, 24, of New Douglas was charged with driving while having a suspended/revoked license.

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HeartLands Conservancy will host an informational event about funding assistance opportunities for landowners in the Highland Silver Lake watershed Friday, Jan. 25 at 11:30 am at the Diamond Mineral Springs Restaurant in Grantfork.

The meeting will give landowners and operators a chance to learn about funding opportunities currently available for erosion control projects and sign up for the 319 cost share program before the Thursday, Jan. 31 application deadline.